Matrix-setting and type-linecasting machine



Jan. 2, 1934. J. DORNETH l1,942,326

MATRIX SETTING AND TYPE LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1933 www,

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFCE` MATRIX-SETTING AND TYPE-LINE- CASTING MACHNE Julius Tegel, Germany,

Dorneth, Konradshche, near Berlinassigner to Typograph G. m. b. H., Berlin, Germany 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in matrix-setting and type-line-casting machines with matrix bars freely suspended on wires and guided in a circuit. In such machines the partly very long matrix bars are as a rule suspended on the sliding wires by means oi hook-shaped tipping or longitudinally adjustable eyes provided at their upper ends. The upper end of each matrix bar comprises a steel bar made as flat as possible, whilst the bottom brass parts carrying the characters are made thicker to suit the width of the letters. In the position of rest, the matrices are at a high point of the matrix basket. By depression of a key the matrices required for the copy to be set are released and slide downwardly by gravity along the sliding wires leading from the magazine to the lower collecting point. Owing to their peculiar mass distribution and to the only one-sided guiding at the upper suspension point, such a matrix bar acts as a pendulum. The matrices fall down in an irregular manner and start oscillating in different directions. They oscillate or swing laterally out of the path and also in the planes of their direction of fall at the time. rlhese irregular movements of the released matrices are further increased by the repeated deections to which they are exposed on their way from the magazine to the collecting point or to the casting point. In addition, the special release devices used in such machines impart an initial acceleration to the matrix bar ends resting in the magazine. Whilst therefore the heavy bottom end of the bar is still at rest and owing to its inertia is accelerated only slowly, the upper light end which is at a distance from it, is given an initial acceleration. The suspension eye therefore leads or moves in advance of the part carrying the character, and this produces a tipping movement of the whole bar which begins to swing in the direction of the path. The bottom end swings beyond the vertical position and as the eye has to overcome friction on the sliding wire, whilst the bottom part can move freely through the air, irregular oscillations are produced. These oscillations are naturally increased at the points where the sliding wires change their direction, by the additional lateral oscillations of the matrix bar, as the suspension eyes are braked more particularly during the deflection, whilst the bottom bar parts which are freely moving through the air have not got to overcome any friction and owing to their kinetic energy gained up to this point of the path, swing further in the previous direction of fall. Such a swinging of the bars out of their path also produces undesirable stresses in the suspension eyes of the matrices. This swinging further produces bending which affects perfect sliding of the bars. However, the chief point is that the falling matrices interfere with each other and brake each other in their travel or lock their paths. In

this way faults are of course produced in setting as it is n o longer possible to comply with the condition that the matrices shall reach the collecting point or the casting point in the same sequence as that of the key depressions releasing them. The shape of the matrix bars and the distribution of their masses is denite and the pendulum-like suspension at the upper end of the bars also cannot be omitted.

'Ihe object of the present invention is to elimi- 'Y nate the above-mentioned disadvantages of existing machines by preventing irregular oscillation movements of the matrix bars sliding from the magazine to the collecting point. According to the invention, the matrix bars are guided at their bottom ends so as to keep them as parallel to each other as possible during their sliding down from the magazine to the collecting point, by the provision of guide surfaces shaped to suit the special conditions; and the swinging of the bars, both to the side and in the plane of their direction of fall, as well as the leading or advance of the upperv or lower matrix bar ends is prevented thereby in an effective manner to an extent sumcient for practical purposes.

A construction according to the invention is shown diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine carrying the sliding wires with the matrix bars hanging in the magazine and with the guide surfaces according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, the frame representing the magazine being clearly visible.

Figure 3 is a plan of one of the guide surface according to the invention, and

Figure 4 is a section through the guide surface on line IV-IV of Figure 3, and shows at the same time a matrix bar suspended above the line of intersection and moving along the same.

The matrix bars 1 are suspended at their'upper ends 2 to guide wires 3 within a magazine 4. Depression of the keys 5, releases through the tension wires 6 by means of the release devices '7,A the corresponding suspension eyes 2 which are also given an initial acceleration during the process of releasing. The matrix bars then slide in the known manner along the wires 3 to the co1- lecting point whence they are brought to the casting point. At the casting point the bars are cast in order to subsequently be raised in known man- ,ner to the distributing point, for instance by means of a carriage 8, and to be then pushed over the distributing wires 9 on which they slide back again to the magazine 4. Owing to the peculiar mass distribution of the matrix bars of diiferent length and owing to their pendulum-like suspension at their uppermost ends, the matrix bars have, as already explained, a tendency during 'Cio f ent wires hitherto interfered with each other. some cases it may be advantageous to provide the their sliding from the magazine down to the collecting point to get into irregular oscillations in different directions and thus to interfere with each other during their fall. In order to prevent these oscillations and to cause each matrix bar to make a regular movement of fall as far as possible in a vertically hanging position, there are provided guide surfaces 10 which are so arranged that they guide the bottom ends 11 of the matrix bars 1 in a sliding manner from the beginning of the falling movement from the magazine e to the lowest point of the sliding path, that is to say until directly they reach the collecting point. The guide surfaces 10 start below the magazine i in such a manner that the bottom ends 11 of the matrix bars l, immediately on being released,

engage with the surfaces 10, whilst in the position of rest they are at a small distance a (see Figure e) from the guide surfaces 10. The construction of the guide surfaces 10 follows a definite law which determines their peculiar shape.

This shape is chosen in such a manner that for anypoint of the guide surfaces l0, the distance to the sliding Wire 3 situated vertically above it, is equal to the length of the :matrix bar that may be guided on this wire. The distances between the sliding surfacesl) and the guide wires 3 are of course determined in the case of matrix bars which, .for instance owing to their suspension on l.tipping eyes or owing to their other desired construction such as divided longitudinal adjustable `matrix bars, can have different lengths, by the maximum length of the bar. On the guide surfaces 10 `may therefore be drawn path lines for .the bottom end points of the matrix bars 1 and for any point of the path line, the distance from `the corresponding sliding wire 3 arranged vertically above it, is constant, namely equal to the greatest length of the matrix bar guided on the corresponding sliding wire. This construction of the guide surfaces 10 ensures that the matrix Ybars l move in such a manner during their sliding from the magazine 4 down tothe collecting point, as if they were positively guided not only at their upper ends 2 but also at their bottom ends l1, that is to say at two points. The bars therefore pass in a 'practically `vertical position from the magazine 4 to the .collecting point, Vand any leading or advance both of the suspension eyes 2 and of the bottom ends l1 of the matrix bars carrying the characters, is effectively prevented. Oscillations within the plane of the sliding movement Yare thereby stopped, together with the lateral pendulum oscillations produced more particularly at Vthe points of deflection of the sliding Wires 3 owing to which the matrix bars guided on differguide vsurfaces 10 with ledges l2 which may be arranged in a fixed or interchangeable Vmanner within the nguide surfaces 10. In accordance with the construction of the magazine 4 which comprises two halves symmetrically arranged relatively toeach otherftwo guide surfaces 10 are provided which'are symmetrically arranged and equal :to-each other, and which are secured to the machine ina laterally rotatable manner for instance -by rods 13. The object of this is to enable the .compositor to Watch and to reach the machine parts situated behind. The Working position of the guide surfaces 10 must be exactly determined and `fixed in order to ensure that the objects of the arrangement will be attained in a reliable manner. The guide surfaces 10 are therefore held fast in their working position (see Figures 1 and 2) in any desired manner for instance by means of pawls 1li provided on them, and of locking hooks 15 engaging with the said pawls and secured to the machine. The guide surfaces 10 can be made of any desired material, for instance of metal, compressed substances or also of a combination of such materials. Further, the guide surfaces may be made of transparent substances such as glass, Celluloid or the like in order to enable the compositor to watch during the working the machine parts situated behind.

With the arrangement hereinbefore described, all the drawbacks above referred to and occurring in known setting machines equipped with matrix bars freely suspended on wires and guided in a circuit, are eliminated in a simple manner.

chine of the type having matrix bars freely sus-7' pended vertically on wires and guided vertically in a circuit having a magazine nlled with matrix release devices and having a collecting and casting station situated beneath the magazine, means engaged by the lower ends of the matrix bars for effecting parallel and steady guiding of the matrix bars in a vertical position on their way from the magazine to the collecting point in front of the casting point.

2. A machine as claimed in claim l, wherein av very small distance is provided between the bottom endsv of the matrix bars suspended in the magazine directly behind the release devices and the corresponding ends of the guide means.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide means have surfaces given such a shape that the distance between any point of the guide surfaces and the sliding wire situated vertically above it, is equal to the greatest length-of the corresponding matrix bar guided on the said sliding wire. f

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein separate ledges are arranged on the guide means for preventing lateral oscillations of the fallingdown matrix bars.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein means is provided for mounting the guiding means on the machine so that the guiding means can swing to the sides thereof Y 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein 

